The dynamics and drivers of environmental performance in Chinese cities: a decomposition analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This paper examines urban environmental performance using a unique database of 286 Chinese cities for the period 2002–2014. Both the dynamics of...     

Using hydrochemical signatures to characterize the long-period evolution of groundwater information in the Dagu River Basin,China

• The long-period groundwater evolution was identified by hydrochemical signatures. • The dominant processes in the groundwater evolution were verified. • Groundwater quality in the coastal areas was susceptible to deterioration due to SI. • Groundwater contamination arose from fertilizer, livestock manure & domestic sewage. The evolution of hydrochemical compositions influenced by long-period interactions between groundwater and the geo-environment is a fundamental issue for exploring groundwater quality and vulnerability. This study systematically investigated the hydrochemical processes and anthropogenic interference occurring in the river basin by bivariate plots, Gibbs diagrams, saturation index, and the major ions ratios. Apparent changes in groundwater hydrochemistry have been observed in the study area, illustrating the origins of major ions are affected by various internal and external factors. Results highlighted that TDS varied from freshwater to brackish water, ranging between 187.90 and 2294.81 mg/L. Ca²⁺ and HCO₃⁻ are the dominant ions in the studied samples. The results gained by Gibbs diagrams, bivariate plots, saturation index, and the major ions ratios demonstrated that minerals dissolution/precipitation, cation exchange, and human inputs play crucial roles in the unconfined aquifers. Moreover, the overuse of nitrogen fertilizer, livestock manure, and industrial/domestic sewage led to nitrate and nitrite contamination and brought significant challenges to the surrounding hydrogeo-environment. The present study could make an unambiguous identification of natural processes and anthropogenic interventions influencing groundwater hydrochemistry’s long-period evolution and create a preliminary strategy for groundwater resources management.     

Sewage sludge ditch for recovering heavy metals can improve crop yield and soil environmental quality

• Indirect use of sludge in ditches alongside plants was tested in field experiments. • The dried and stabilized sludge in ditches was recovered with heavy metals. • Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in the planted soil were all in a safe range. • The indirect use of sludge increased plant yield, soil N content and C storage. The treatment and disposal of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) is an urgent problem to be resolved in many countries. Safely using the nutrients within MSS to increase crop yield and enhance the fertility of poor soil could contribute to achieving sustainable development. An indirect use of MSS in ditches alongside Pennisetum hybridum plants was studied in field plots for 30 months and the contents of heavy metals and macronutrients were monitored in soil, sludge and plant samples. We found that the yield of P. hybridum was significantly increased by 2.39 to 2.80 times and the treated plants had higher N content compared with no sludge. In addition, the organic matter (OM) and N contents in the planted soil increased significantly compared with the initial soil. The OM content in the planted soil of the MSS treatment was 2.9 to 5.2 times higher than that with no sludge, and N increased by 2.0 to 3.8 times. However, MSS had no significant effect on the N, P and K contents in the soil at the bottom of the MSS ditch, and the content of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) were also within the safe range. Moreover, the moisture content and phytotoxicity of MSS after this indirect use were reduced and the heavy metal contents changed little, which is favorable to the further disposal of recovered MSS. Therefore, this indirect use of MSS is beneficial to agricultural production, soil quality and environmental sustainability.     

Effects of climate variables on the transmission of COVID-19: a systematic review of 62 ecological studies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was initially discovered at the end of 2019 in Wuhan City in China and has caused one of the...     

Environmental effects and risk control of antibiotic resistance genes in the organic solid waste aerobic composting system: A review

• ARGs were detected in livestock manure, sludge, food waste and fermentation dregs. • The succession of microbial community is an important factor affecting ARGs. • Horizontal transfer mechanism of ARGs during composting should be further studied. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been diffusely detected in several kinds of organic solid waste, such as livestock manure, sludge, antibiotic fermentation residues, and food waste, thus attracting great attention. Aerobic composting, which is an effective, harmless treatment method for organic solid waste to promote recycling, has been identified to also aid in ARG reduction. However, the effect of composting in removing ARGs from organic solid waste has recently become controversial. Thus, this article summarizes and reviews the research on ARGs in relation to composting in the past 5 years. ARGs in organic solid waste could spread in different environmental media, including soil and the atmosphere, which could widen environmental risks. However, the conventional composting technology had limited effect on ARGs removal from organic solid waste. Improved composting processes, such as hyperthermophilic temperature composting, could effectively remove ARGs, and the HGT of ARGs and the microbial communities are identified as vital influencing factors. Currently, during the composting process, ARGs were mainly affected by three response pathways, (I) “Microenvironment-ARGs”; (II) “Microenvironment-microorganisms-ARGs”; (III) “Microorganisms-horizontal gene transfer-ARGs”, respectively. Response pathway II had been studied the most which was believed that microbial community was an important factor affecting ARGs. In response pathway III, mainly believed that MGEs played an important role and paid less attention to eARGs. Further research on the role and impact of eARGs in ARGs may be considered in the future. It aims to provide support for further research on environmental risk control of ARGs in organic solid waste.     

Study on coupling between mineral resources exploitation and the mining ecological environment in Shanxi Province

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Due to rapid socioeconomic development, seeking the coordination of resources exploitation and the ecological environment has become an objective...     

2019年扬州市公共场所健康危害因素监测结果分析

为了提升扬州市公共场所卫生状况和传染病防控能力,按照国家标准于2019年对扬州市宾馆(酒店)类、沐浴类、理发店类、美容店类和候车室类5类公共场所的健康危害因素(空气质量和公共用品用具)进行监测,按照《公共场所卫生指标及限值要求》(GB 37488—2019)进行评价。结果表明,共监测空气质量样品216份,合格率为84.26%,共监测公共用品用具1 414份,合格率为96.46%,不同场所的空气质量合格率和公共用品用具微生物指标合格率差异均具有统计学意义(P 0.05)。不同类型公共用品用具监测项目中,金黄色葡萄球菌的合格率最高(100%),而真菌总数的合格率最低(93.75%)。各类公共用品用具中,拖鞋合格率最低(91.67%),床单相对较高(99.70%)。扬州市公共卫生状况总体良好,在空气质量监测中,物理项目和微生物项目合格率较低,在公共用品用具监测中,细菌总数和大肠菌群存在不合格现象。     

Simultaneous removal of cyanobacterial blooms and production of clean water by coupling flocculation with a rotary drum filter

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A mechanical harvesting technology based on coupling flocculation with a rotary drum filter (RDF, 35-μm) was applied to remove cyanobacterial...     

上海市2000-2019年降水酸性和离子成分的变化趋势

降雨的酸度和化学成分主要由区域空气质量决定.本研究通过分析上海市2000-2019年降水监测数据,研究了酸雨强度和频率的变化趋势及其原因.结果 表明,本世纪前二十年上海酸雨污染呈现先加剧后缓解的倒"V"型变化趋势,2019年全市平均酸雨污染水平与2000年相当,其中石化企业集中的金山区取代钢铁火电集中的宝山区成为上海酸雨污染最严重的区域.SO42-、NO3-、NH4+和Ca2+是降水中的主要离子成分.各站点降水SO42-浓度比最高点分别降低了85％-94％,与同期大气SO2降幅基本一致,表明消减SO2排放在酸雨防控中发挥了关键作用.NO3-/SO42-比值不断升高,从最初的～0.3上升到当前的1.0以上,表明上海酸雨已经从硫酸型转变为以硝酸为主的混合型,即,机动车排放污染成为上海酸雨的主控因子.降水中Ca2+浓度降幅超过70％,部分抵消了SO2减排对酸雨的影响.随着碱性大气颗粒物的减少,NH3排放对降水酸度的影响越来越突出.为协同治理PM2.5和酸雨污染,本研究建议在长三角等酸雨区应审慎实施NH3减排措施.     

新型溴代阻燃剂TBB和TBPH的生态毒理研究进展

新型溴代阻燃剂2-乙基己基-四溴苯甲酸(2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate,TBB)和2,3,4,5-四溴-苯二羧酸双(2-乙基己基)酯(bis(2-ethylhexyl)2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate,TBPH)作为传统溴代阻燃剂多溴联苯醚(poly brominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)的替代品,广泛应用于工业和人类日常生活用品中,已在各种环境介质和生物体甚至人体中被检测出,由此可能对生态环境和人类健康产生潜在的风险.本文对TBB和TBPH这2种新型溴代阻燃剂的最新生态毒理学研究进展进行了综述,介绍了 TBB和TBPH在各类环境介质和生物体中的分布、环境归趋、人群暴露状况以及有关的生物毒性效应.最后对TBB和TBPH研究存在的问题进行了梳理分析,提出了研究展望,以期促进TBB和TBPH的环境风险和人类健康风险评价的深入研究.